The Viking mat and block kits offer a low cost solution to convert any Champion nailer to build high quality, affordable block pallets.

By StaffDate Posted: 2/1/2013

Viking Engineering has been recognized for its stringer pallet nailing systems for a full spectrum of pallet manufacturing needs for over 35 years. Realizing that block pallets, specialty pallets, skids, and other custom pallets are becoming more popular, Viking has evolved its solutions to accommodate the rapidly changing market environment. A low cost solution was developed to help Viking’s customers accommodate this level of rising demand from their own customers. Many pallet companies historically turned away block pallet or specialty pallet business because they had not developed the experience and capabilities in these products. With the Viking mat and block kits, they can now use their existing Champion nailer to capture block pallet business that they have been turning away.

The Viking mat and block kits offer a low cost solution to convert any Champion nailer to build high quality, affordable block pallets. These two kits can be used on two different Champion nailing systems to avoid changeover times, or a Champion nailer can be changed over to produce mats on one shift and blocks on another.

Mat Kits automate the mat building process, including clinch nailing. Since mats are the most difficult part of a block pallet to build, many pallet people may just build mats on a Champion using a mat kit and assemble the block bottom section by hand.

There are two ways to build block pallets on a Champion. One feeds pre-assembled dumbbells through a Champion just like they were stringers. The operator then places deck boards on the dumbbells in the first assembly station where they are nailed in place. This perimeter base is then flipped to the top deck station where a mat is placed on the top and machine nailed.

A second way to build a block pallet on a Champion nailer requires both a mat kit and a block kit. The block kit is used to build an entire perimeter base; no pre-assembled dumbbells are needed. Then a completed pallet base is flipped to the top deck station where a pre-made mat is nailed on the top.

If a single Champion nailer is converted from a block kit to mat kit or vice versa, changeover is said to be an hour or less. Many companies make mats on one shift and blocks on a second. A pallet company can order the kits separately or acquire them with a new Viking Champion. Viking indicates that you can build 400-500 mats or blocks per shift with a single operator.

For more information about these two Champion kits or Vikings total block pallet solutions, call 763-571-2400 or Visit VikingEng.com